Ready for the Spotlight!

An exuberant and relatable picture book about sibling rivalry, ballet, and finding your free-form self.

Confidence goes a long way, and so does practice—but the support of a loving family and community matters even more in this winsome tale of dancing your way into your own unique talents. Tessie has taken ballet for a whole month and thinks she has it down. If it weren’t for her big sister, Maya, who seems to own the spotlight, Tessie would dazzle the whole class. But when Maya lands the lead—and the coveted princess crown—in the fall recital, not even freestyle dancing can fully rescue Tessie’s spirits. But maybe they each have something to teach and the spotlight is big enough for two? Jaime Kim’s author-illustrator debut captures the shifting emotions of competition, sisterhood, and joy in movement with warmth, charm, and a delicious candy-bright palette.

“Bright watercolor and digital art centers mercurial Tessie's reactions to great effect, adding wonderfully wrought physical humor to this refreshing tale of perseverance, growth, and tender sibling bonds. --Publishers Weekly Kim's accessible illustrations set a colorful stage for a sweet social-emotional story. With her spiky pageboy, distinct frown, and downturned black eyebrows, Tessie's emotions take center stage in a familiar and recognizable way. . . An adorable exploration of jealousy. --Kirkus Reviews A relatable story. . . Kim has mastered the furrowed-brow pout, and her use of light (from stage spotlights to sunshine) and shadowed silhouettes to underscore emotions is effectively implemented. . . [the story] offers a positive example of collaboration and communication to resolve tension between siblings. Children will feel seen by this book . --Booklist There's plenty of humorous snark in Tessie's grumpy narration, and her jealousy of and annoyance with Maya ring with authenticity. . . Readers struggling with sibling rivalry or just the weight of their own expectations will appreciate Tessie's ability to let loose and have fun. --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books”

Bright watercolor and digital art centers mercurial Tessie’s reactions to great effect, adding wonderfully wrought physical humor to this refreshing tale of perseverance, growth, and tender sibling bonds.
—Publishers Weekly

Kim’s accessible illustrations set a colorful stage for a sweet social-emotional story. With her spiky pageboy, distinct frown, and downturned black eyebrows, Tessie’s emotions take center stage in a familiar and recognizable way. . . An adorable exploration of jealousy.
—Kirkus Reviews

A relatable story. . . Kim has mastered the furrowed-brow pout, and her use of light (from stage spotlights to sunshine) and shadowed silhouettes to underscore emotions is effectively implemented. . . [the story] offers a positive example of collaboration and communication to resolve tension between siblings. Children will feel seen by this book.
—Booklist

There’s plenty of humorous snark in Tessie’s grumpy narration, and her jealousy of and annoyance with Maya ring with authenticity. . . Readers struggling with sibling rivalry or just the weight of their own expectations will appreciate Tessie’s ability to let loose and have fun.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Jaime (Jimyung) Kim was born and raised in Korea before moving to the United States at the age of eighteen. She has illustrated many books for young readers, including La La La: A Story of Hope by Kate DiCamillo, And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner, Around the Table that Grandad Built by Melanie Heuiser Hill, and Isle of You by David LaRochelle. Jaime Kim lives in North Carolina.

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